Bee-Culture at Present 379 



white settlements gradually extended across the continent, 

 but was introduced there with great painstaking. 



There are many species of wild bees that eat honey but 

 do not store it up, and it is to these that Muir refers in the 

 following statement concerning the coming of the hive- 

 bees to California : — 



" How long the various species of wild bees have lived 

 in this honey-garden, nobody knows; probably since the 

 main body of the present flora gained possession of the 

 land, toward the close of the glacial period. The first 

 brown honey-bees brought to California are said to have 

 arrived in San Francisco in March, 1853. A bee-keeper 

 by the name of Shelton purchased a lot, consisting of twelve 

 swarms, from some one at Aspinwall, who had brought them 

 from New York. When landed at San Francisco, all the 

 hives contained live bees, but they finally dwindled to one 

 hive, which was taken to San Jose. The little immigrants 

 flourished and multiphed in the bountiful pastures of the 

 Santa Clara VaUey, sending off three swarms the first season. 



" The owner was killed shortly afterward, and in settling 

 up his estate, two of the swarms were sold at auction for 

 $105 and ^iio respectively. Other importations were 

 made from time to time, by way of the isthmus, and, 

 though great pains were taken to insure success, about one- 

 half usually died on the way. Four swarms were brought 

 safely across the plains in 1859, the hives being placed in 

 the rear end of a wagon, which was stopped in the after- 

 noon to allow the bees to fly and feed in the floweriest 

 places that were within reach until dark, when the hives 

 were closed." 



Thus modestly began what has since grown to be one of 

 the most important bee industries in the world. 



Thousands of acres of bee-pasture have been despoiled 

 of their flowers by agriculturists and shepherds, the latter 



